DA NANG  (VNS) — Former coach of defunct Quang Nam-Da Nang (Da Nang now) Vu Van Tu passed away on Thursday aged 77.

Tu, who was born in Nam Dinh and grew up in Hai Phong, guided the former Quang Nam-Da Nang team to second place in the National football championship three times in 1987, 1990 and 1991.

He was the national team coach at the Southeast Asian Games in the Philippines in 1991.

He played for the former Hai Phong Port team from 1955-70, before coaching Gia Lai in 1984 and then Da Nang in 1985-1991.

Tu helped central Da Nang from unknowns team to a perennial contender for the national football championship in 1980s.

He coached Khanh Hoa, Song Be, Long An and Can Tho from 1992-02 before retiring from football in late 2002.

He had just begun coaching amateur teams in Da Nang after retirement before his death. — VNS